The state government is suing former Bentong MP Wong Tack for allegedly making defamatory statements about logging activities being carried out in the state.

Lawyer R Kengadharan, representing Wong, said Justice Roslan Mat Nor scheduled the trial dates at case management today.

He said the matter would be called up again on Nov 11 for case management to allow Wong to amend his witness list and file an environmental report.

Azlan Abdul Razak appeared for the Pahang government in today’s proceedings.

Kengadharan, appointed recently, said the pleadings in the case – comprising the Pahang government’s statement of claim, Wong’s defence and the state’s reply – were filed two years ago.

The state government is seeking an apology and RM1 million in damages from Wong, a one-term MP who stood for election on a Pakatan Harapan ticket in 2018.

It said Wong had posted videos and made statements on Facebook on Dec 28, 2020 and Jan 30, 2021 which, when read together, were defamatory of the state authorities.

The state government said Wong’s statements implied that it had allowed uncontrollable logging in rainfall areas within the state that had led to massive floods.

Wong’s statements also alleged that the state government was involved in logging and illegal exploitation of forest land.

It further alleged that the former MP’s statements had suggested that the state had acted irresponsibly and that it did not care for the welfare of the people of Pahang.

The state government also claimed that Wong had implied it was lying and oppressing its people by allowing widespread logging activities in Pahang’s forests.

It said Wong’s statements had subjected the state government to public criticism and damaged its reputation.

Wong, an environmentalist, is relying on the defence of justification and fair comment.

“As an elected representative, it is my responsibility to speak for the people,” said Wong, who was unsuccessful in his defence of the Bentong seat at the 15th general election in November 2022.